Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Japan could be seen as the first direct hint that India is showcasing a coherent foreign policy of reaching out to Asian nations, instead of just reacting to situations. The second part of the foreign policy also has an interpretation: Modi has picked Japan to thwart Chinese ambitions in the region by reviving India’s influence. He is on the same page as his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, given the developing tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. Both leaders are part of a mutual admiration society.
Trade is the bottom line. Modi was accompanied by an ultra high-powered delegation of businessmen to woo investors and the prime minister took the occasion to focus on the government’s gains over the past 100 days with him at the helm.
The test will come when India prepares to look and act as if it is ready to transform the continent’s strategic landscape. China has stolen a march and New Delhi cannot win friends over with promises of simply doing business with them.
The Indian economy is looking up, but that will not be enough. Modi has a lot of housekeeping to do, specifically with regard to removing red tape, bureaucracy and corruption. Domestic reforms across multiple platforms are also necessary. Most allies would want Modi to practise what he preaches.
